Black's Cliff Birch Bark Blog

Excerpt: After a year of production the book is here. A year ago in the spring we were approached by the author Neil Johnson and asked if we wanted to be a part of his latest project "The Resorts of Wisconsin" telling the history of resorting and resorts of Wisconsin. Neil spent a year and a half wandering the roads... Read more

Excerpt: While everyone else in the country has been sweltering in heat, we have enjoyed some cool air. Cool enough to light a fire outside and enjoy some smores The Finn and White families had such a nice table set out I had to stop by for a picture. Between the wine and the nice temps everyone was enjoying being... Read more

Excerpt: Chris and Wendy shared their week in pictures with me. They were joined by their son Andy and his girlfriend for the week. I always love watching couples row boats and it is always interesting seeing if they end up backwards or forwards She was determined to get that boat in the right direction What form! Yep Chris has... Read more

Excerpt: We had a rainy and sunny week at the resort this week. Just when the lake levels start going down we get more rain, so the lake is still up. The changing weather has made for lots of pretty pictures. The blooming flowers on the hill have enjoyed the rain. The mosquitos have not been bad so far but... Read more

Excerpt: We hosted our first graduation party this weekend. I hear Black's Cliff has become a buzz word for easy way to destress when all the relatives are coming to town for graduation, call Jenny and book a big house and your life becomes Zen. This weekend it was Ivy's party at Red Pine Matt "Ivy" Iverson enjoying the congrats... Read more

Excerpt: The Rose Family arrived to Bear Den. Luz has a tradition of making Columbian breakfast called Caldo. Specially seasoned eggs served with Caldo, roast beef so tender it falls apart added to a potato soup. Luz informed us it is the Columbian cure for hangovers as well as a good breakfast. Here is a link about Caldo http://www.weareneverfull.com/caldo-de-costillas-colombias-favorite-hangover-cure/ Everytime... Read more

Excerpt: Summer has arrived and I could fill the blog full of summer fun pics today but instead I thought it would be fun to share a blog entry I found from a new family this weekend in Muskie Inn. Written by 2 sisters I think it sums up the effect of coming to the Cliff, it even makes teenagers... Read more

Excerpt: There is a doe and fawn at the end of the driveway in this picture. I only had my Iphone and no telephoto to capture them. The fawn looked very new watching us down King's Manor driveway. In other news, we have had a few days of only being 1/2 full before the weekend and that means the guys... Read more

Excerpt: I headed out this morning as the sunlight was just hitting the Red Pines and showing how they got their names As I came down to the lake the Heron decided to put on a show and I had my telephoto and it was turned on!! YEAH Does not happen like this often. Thank you Mr Heron Swooping past... Read more

Excerpt: A big thank you to those that serve and have served in the armed forces that allow the rest of us to enjoy days like this Happy Memorial Day!... Read more

Excerpt: Minocqua's Memorial Day service. Not big but big on meaning. Veterans first marching down the street Boy Scouts next, wish there was a group of Girl Scouts behind them but there was not Our combined middle school bands from MHLT (Minocqua, Hazelhurst and Lake Tomahawk), and AVW (Arbor Vitae and Woodruff) This is their first taste of marching and... Read more

Excerpt: While I hear reports of how bad the traffic is on the Highways this weekend or how crazy Walmart parking lot is. We have camped out at the resort with no reason to go to town all weekend. Peace and quiet! We had a couple of rounds of thunderstorms last night and I think everyone was sleeping in after... Read more

Excerpt: It was time to put the 3rd and last pontoon boat in and bring Chicken Little along for the ride. So far the launchings have gone smooth and everything working fine, so time to bring Mack along and work on his fears of all things on the water. Can you see the look on his face wondering what we... Read more

Excerpt: It was time to get the big white dock in this weekend. This is the first time it has launched with out Craig to over see. Troy and Steve managed to get all in You wondered why there are holes in the dock? While the dock was going in, lots of painting was getting done at the top of... Read more

Excerpt: We had a humming bird at our Fushia plants. After the humming bird left this moth showed up. I think it is a moth. Does anyone know what it is? It had an antenna or tongue that was cleaning out the flowers. Someone fill us in on what this was. I had never seen one before ... Read more

Excerpt: You never know who is going to arrive in my driveway. Today I had Tom Weiss a chain saw carver arrive with a truck load of his sculptures taking a few days to enjoy the Northwoods before going home. Calling Tom a chain saw carver is not right I think I would put him in the category of chainsaw... Read more

Excerpt: To all those who were disturbed by the hole in the roof pictures of Restawhile, it is done. For some reason I seemed to disturb a few folks who were planning on staying in Restawhile in the next few weeks with pictures of the hole... did you really doubt Craig would not get it done... Don't you know... he... Read more

Excerpt: Time to put the raft in place. Notice the relatively calm lake as Steve starts out Hooked up and starting out rowing. I can do this no problem. Paul Zaremba could not but I can Um....where did that wind come from? HELP I am headed to the otherside of the lake Throw the motor in reverse and PULL!! Wind... Read more

Excerpt: Time to put the first pontoon boat in. All cleaned up and loaded with beach chairs. When they asked me to help launch, I looked at them remembering how many times a flat tire, trailer popping of the ball, and motor with mouse nest in it has happened causing major delays and thought about my chicken boiling on the... Read more

Excerpt: One picture, a thousand words, this is what being in a family business is all about, family that works together stays together and getting the blue dock in, in time for the weekend is a good thing. Something binds you together when you have to get in freezing cold water twice a year with your brother inlaw and father/father... Read more